For the
first time since January 25, 2006, they’ll vote in an election
much different from then. Fed up with institutionalized Fatah
corruption and subservience to Israel, Hamas candidates swept to
victory.

They won
74 of the Palestinian Legislative Council’s (PLC) 132 seats.
Hamas became Palestine’s legitimate government. It remains so
despite Fatah’s complicity with Israel. Doing so separated West
Bank authority from Gaza.

Ismail
Haniyeh is Palestine’s prime minister. Fayyad’s PM appointment
lacks legitimacy. He represents lawless coup d’etat authority.
Abbas’ term as president expired in January 2009. He remains in
office illegally.

Palestinians suffer because of their allegiance to Israel and
Washington, not them. Elections this month assure continuity,
not democratic change.

On October
10, the Los Angeles Times headlined “Palestinian voters
skeptical about value of elections.”

Hebron
City Council aspirant Maysoun Qawasmi expressed popular
frustration, saying:

“We are
seeing the same people running, and they aren’t offering
anything new. Voters are looking for independent voices.”

They
dismissed about 50 Fatah members wanting to run as independents.
Prominent former Nablus Mayor Ghassan Shaka’a was bumped
illegitimately.

Other PLO
candidates running independently were denied funding. They
include candidates representing the Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Democratic Front for the
Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), and People’s (Communist) Party.

Al Haq
human rights group legal consultant, Issam Abdeen, said:

“The sound
basis for any election to take place is a healthy, political
atmosphere. (It’s) clearly lacking here.”

According
to Palestinian Central Electoral Commission (CEC) chairperson
Hanna Nasser, the West Bank has over 350 districts. However, 181
won’t participate because only Fatah candidates are running.

In
addition, another 78 postponed voting until November. At issue
is getting enough candidates to stand in a fraudulent process.

On October
18, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) expressed
great concern about upcoming elections. At issue is limited
public freedoms and “continuing widespread” PA human rights
violations.

On July
10, Palestine’s CEC was “instructed to make the necessary
arrangements in order to organize the elections in both the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip by the Council of Ministers in
Ramallah.”

After
Hamas CEC participation was terminated, “the Council of
Ministers annulled their previous decision.” They decided on
only West Bank elections.

The most
recent local council ones were held in stages from December 2004
to December 2005. In December 2009, the mandate for these
elections expired.

Since
then, separate West Bank/Gaza authorities appointed local
council members directly. Favoritism substituted for democracy.

“As the
mandate granted by the Palestinian people in local, legislative
and presidential elections has expired, these institutions have
lost their authorization to represent the will of the
Palestinian voters.”

“Therefore, the holding of renewed elections is the democratic
entitlement of the Palestinian people.”

Fatah
denies them that right. Abbas and Fayyad take orders from
Israel. They salute and obey. Palestinians lose out altogether.

Legitimate
general or local elections require certain conditions in place.
Transparency is fundamental. So is a free, fair, and open
process. The popular will of the electorate must be prioritized.

Public
freedoms must be protected. They include “the right to freedom
of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly, the
right to form associations, freedom of the press, the release of
political detainees, and an end to restrictions placed on
political activities.”

Nothing
resembling electoral freedom is in place. How could it be with
democracy excluded from the ballot. Palestine is fractured in
two pieces. Abbas repeatedly delayed elections. After promising
Fatah/Hamas unity, he backed off and did nothing.

Abbas/Fayyad
began corrupting the process months ago. Fatah outliers, other
challengers, and Hamas members were targeted. Arrests were made.
Palestinians wanting legitimate government were imprisoned.

What’s
upcoming this weekend assures continuity of lawless government
and Fatah-enforced occupation harshness. Palestinians should opt
out and stay home. With choice off the ballot, nothing they do
electorally will change things.

Separately, Haaretz headlined “Netanyahu cabinet to adopt part
of Levy report on legal status of West Bank outposts.”

All
settlements and outposts violate international law. Israel
spurns it dismissively. In January, Netanyahu appointed a
three-member committee. Former Supreme Court Justice Edmond Levy
headed it.

He
excluded fairness and rule of law principles from consideration.
Three issues were examined:

(1) Legal
aspects of Israel’s occupation.

(2) The
2005 Sasson Report’s conclusion that dozens of outposts built on
privately owned Palestinian land were illegal.

(3)
Whether Israel’s presence in the West Bank is, or is not, an
occupation.

Levy’s
report rewrote international law. It claimed that occupation “as
set out in the relevant international conventions cannot be
considered applicable to the unique and sui generis historic and
legal circumstances of Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria
spanning over decades.”

“Israelis
have the legal right to settle in Judea and Samaria and the
establishment of settlements cannot, in and of itself, be
considered illegal.”

It
recommended legalizing illegal outposts. It said zoning
officials should authorize them without further political
approval. It urged no restraints on settlement construction.

Netanyahu
praised the report, saying:

“In my
opinion, this report is important because it deals with the
legalization and the legitimization of the settlement enterprise
in Judea and Samaria on the basis of facts, a variety of facts
and arguments that should be seriously considered.”

It’s
unsurprising given Likud’s position on settlements, stating:

“The
Jewish communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza (all Occupied
Palestine) are the realization of Zionist values. Settlement of
the land is a clear expression of the unassailable right of the
Jewish people to the Land of Israel and constitutes an important
asset in the defense of the vital interests of the State of
Israel.”

“The Likud
will continue to strengthen and develop these communities and
will prevent their uprooting.”

“The
Jordan river will be the permanent eastern border of the State
of Israel.”

“Jerusalem
is the eternal, united capital of the State of Israel and only
of Israel. The government will flatly reject Palestinian
proposals to divide Jerusalem.”

“The
Government of Israel flatly rejects the establishment of a
Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan river.”

Levy’s
Likudnik standing remains unblemished. He’s more shyster than
jurist. He’s little more than a retired Likud Party hack. His
opinions are entirely separate from legal principles.
Revisionism defined his ruling.

Haaretz
said Netanyahu plans to legalize West Bank outposts. Previously
he stopped short. No longer. Together with other hardliners
they’ll do it to appease settlers ahead of planned January
elections.

Doing so
will make it easier to steal land, expand settlements, and
dispossess more Palestinians. Adopting key parts of Levy’s
report effectively annexes all West Bank territory Israel
wishes.

Maybe
taking it all is planned. Put nothing past fascists like
Netanyahu. Some of his policies exceed what some despots would
dare.

Surprisingly, Defense Minister Ehud Barak opposes his move,
saying:

Approving
the Levy report “will backfire on those who support it. The
report’s adoption won’t strengthen the settlements in the West
Bank, but will instead cause diplomatic damage and will increase
Israel’s isolation in the world.”

He urged
cabinet members reject what’s now approved. Labor leader Shelly
Yacimovich agreed. He called Netanyahu’s move a transparent
pre-election stunt. He’ll do more harm to Israel’s security than
improve it.

Kadima MK
Yisrael Hasson said Netanyahu’s “playing with a flame-thrower
over a barrel of gasoline. (He) wants to enslave the State of
Israel for the sake of political interests and we will pay the
price for that.”

Other
opposition party members also expressed criticism. Likud MK
Danny Danon said he’s trying to enlist congressional support. He
wants Washington to legitimize what’s illegitimate.

Getting it
he calls “a rare historical opportunity.” With US elections
approaching, perhaps he’ll succeed. No one considers what’s
right for Palestinians important.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be
reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net . His
new book is titled How Wall Street
Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and
Class War

Also visit his blog site
at sjlendman.blogspot.com and
listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on
the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network
Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at
noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.http://is.gd/1ZjtJ2

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